Recording instrument



Sept. 16, 1930. TANNER 1,775,976

RECORDING INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. Harry 4 75/7/70:

A TTORN E YS.

RECORDING INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. Harry 1 75/7/70:

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY L. BANNER, OI BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE TANNEB EN- GINEERING COMPANY, INC., 01 LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK RECORDING INSTRUMENT Application filed. February 13, 1928. Serial No. 253,821.

This invention relates to recording instru-' compact, and which are clear of the record sheet so as not to interfere with ready removal and replacement of the latter and so as not to interfere with or cause confusion in reading the indication of the instrument at any time. Another object is to provide means (preferably automatic) for effecting engagement and disengagement betweenthe' marking device and the record sheet, which means ofl'er a minimum resistance to the relative recording movement of the marking device and sheet under the continued action of their record-controlling mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will appear in view of the following disclosure.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate what I now consider a preferred physical embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away of a recording instrument including the nove construction,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substan-' tially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

e recorder illustrated comprises a clock train 10 having an arbor 11 upon which the record sheet 12, suitably calibrated, is detach ably secured by means of a thumb nut 13.

The record sheet 12 constitutes one of the ele-- ments of an indicating and recording couple of which the other element is a marking device shown as a pen 14. The pen 14 is carried by an arm 15 having a right-an le portion, at its end opposite the pen, suita 1y secured to an angle arm 16 secured to a vertically mounted pivot rod or shaft 17. A counterweight 18 is shown also secured to the shaft 17 and is of such movement as to cause the center of gravity of the shaft and parts supported thereby to lie on the axis of rotation or oscillation of the shaft. Means including an electromagnet 19 are provided for automatically causing the shaft 17 and the pen 14 to occupy the proper one of various positions about the axis of the shaft 17 and with respect to the record sheet in accordance with the function or condition of which the record is being automatically kept.

The parts above described are all suitably mounted and enclosed within a casing 20 havmg a door 21, shown hinged to the casing at 22, normally closing the top of the casing.

but which may be opened to permit access to the record sheet so that the latter may be removed and replaced, and for other purposes. The door 21 is shown provided with a transparent window 23 through which a clear vision of the record sheet may be had.

The operation of the instrument as thus far described will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The pen 14 is automatically positioned about the axis of the shaft so as to record or indicate at'all times the desired function or condition, such as temperature, liquid level, electric power consumption or the like. The clock train 10 so positions the record sheet with respect to time that the graph traced upon the record sheet 12 by the pen 14 constitutes a permanent rec- T 0rd of the function or condition indicated at various and all times during the recording period or periods.

In order to facilitate removal and replacement of the record sheet12 it is desirable that the pen 14 may be lifted from the sheet while such removal and replacement are being effected and that the pen be restored to its recording position, in contact with the sheet when the replacement has been effected. I provide novel means for efl'ecting these functions or results automatically by the opening and closing of the door 21, which I shall now proceed to describe.

The arm 15 is shown provided with an extension consisting of a wire or rod 25 which passes through an opening in the vertical portion of the arm 15 and another opening in' axis of the shaft 17 above the latter. In other words, the rod 25 extends through the geometric line round which the shaft 17 re volves but extends above the shaft 17 The arm 15 and its supporting angle 16, particularly thelatter, are sufliciently resilient so that by pressing vertically downward upon the rod 25 at the point above the shaft 17, the. pen 14 is lifted from the record sheet, and so that when the pressure on the rod 25 is removed the pen 14 is automatically restored to its recording position into contact with the record sheet 1 I A lever 26 is shown pivoted at 27 on a bracket 28 secured to the frame 29, in turn secured to the base'of the casing 20. The

, lever 26 is thus capable of ivotal movement about a horizontal axis. ne end 30 of the lever extends at right angles through the axis of the shaft 17 vertically above the latter and vertically above the rod 25. In other words, one end 30 of the lever 26 extends through the geometric line round which the shaft'17 rotates but extends above the shaft 17 and above the rod 25. The other end of the lever 26 is curved at 31 so as-not to extend over the record sheet 12--in fact no part of the stylus lifting. means extends over the record sheet or between the marking device and the record sheet. The free end of the curved portion 31 of the lever 26 terminates in a bentup and bent-over portion 32 adapted to be engaged and operated by the door 21. A spring 33, secured at one end to the frame 29, engages the under side of the lever 26 on the side of the pivot 27 opposite the end 30 of the lever, and serves to bias the end 32 of the lever 26 upwards and the end 30 of the lever downwards intofpressing contact with the rod 25. The design and construction are such as toeifect the following o erations.

When the door 21 is close it en ages and presses downwardly on the end 32 o the lever .26, in opposition to the force exerted upon the lever 26 by the spring 33, and causes the end 30 of the lever 26 to be raised out of contact with the rod 25. The inherent resiliency of the arm 15 and its support causes the pen 14 to engage the record sheet 12, i. e. causes the pen 14 to assume recording position with respect to the record sheet 12. When the door is opened the end 32 of the lever 26 is free to rise, the spring 33 causes the said end 32 of the lever 26 to rise and causes the oppo site end 30 of the said lever 26 to move downwardly to depress the rod 25. This depres sion of the rod 25 movesthe pen end of the arm 15 upwardly so that the pen 14 is lifted upwardly away from and out of contact with A the record sheet 12. The parts stay in' this position as long as the door is open and the record sheet 12 may be readily, moved and replaced. Closure of the door 21 will then automatically cause the pen 14 to be restored to recording position, i. e. returned to contact with the record sheet 12, as above described.

It should be notedthat the point of contact between the rod 25 and the end 30 of the lever 26 lies on the axis of the shaft 17 and that the force ap lied to the rod 25 by the lever 26 is in the ireotion of the axis of the shaft 17. B virtue of this arrangement the resistance 0 ered to continued. movement of the marking device about the axis of the shaft 17 (under the action of the means 19 etc.) by the means for effecting engagement and disengagement between the markmg device and record sheet is a minimum.

In accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have disclosed a now preferred form of my invention. It is to be borne in mind that while it is at. present preferred "to employ the various features and elements in the combination described, some of these may be altered and/oroinitted without interfering with the more general results and effects outlined, and the .invention extends to such use within the scope of the appended claims, I

What I claim is:

1. In a recording instrument having a record sheet and means for operating 'it; a. marking device and means for operating it; a casing enclosing said sheet, device, and means; and said casin having a door provided with a window t rough which the record sheet and marking device may be viewed; in combination, means located within said casing butwholly outside the space between the record sheet and window, and an element adapted to be engaged and operated by the door, for automatically causing the last mentioned means to lift the marking device from the record sheet upon opening of the door.

2. A recording instrument comprising in combination; a record sheet, a. marking device, said record sheet and device bein relatively movable to effect engagement an disengagement thereof, a casin in which said record sheet is mounted an having a door which is opened to-permit access to the-record sheet, and door-operated means located outside the reading area of the record sheet for effecting engagement and disengagement be- 4. A recording i-nstrumentcomprising in combination; a record sheet, a marking dee record sheet, and door vice, an arm carrying the marking device for pivotal movement across the record sheet about an axis beyond the reading area of the record sheet, a casing in which the record 5 sheet is mounted and having a door which is opened to permit access to the record sheet and a door-operated lever for exerting a force upon said arm beyond the reading area of the record sheet to lift the marking device from the record sheet.

5. A recording instrument comprising in combination; a record sheet; pivotally mounted means, a marking device carried by said means, and means for operating the first 5 mentioned means about the pivotal axis to cause the marking device to produce a record upon the record sheet; and means, including a member for exerting a force upon said first mentioned means at a point substantial.-

1y on the said pivotal axis and in the direction of said axis, for effecting engagement and disengagement between the marking device and record sheet.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

HARRY L. TANNER. 

